KARACHI, July 8: The police, assisted by the Rangers, started a siege and search operation in the sensitive areas of Lyari on Tuesday and arrested seven suspects, recovering arms and ammunition.

The operation, which finally kicked off at around 3pm, was followed by the deployment of the police and Rangers in strife-torn Lyari, which began on July 4.

In the first phase, the police and Rangers moved into the sensitive areas of Lyari and took up positions at different spots setting up pickets.

“We have cleared a sizeable area from the clutches of the gangsters starting from Tannery Road, Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road, Eidu Lane, Bhangi Para and Ali Mohammad Mohallah after moving into the narrow streets,” said SP Raja Umar Khattab. “We are carrying out an even-handed operation aimed against both the gangs of Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri,” the SP explained.

“The seven arrested suspects will be thoroughly interrogated by the police to establish their identities and ascertain their role and affiliation with the warring gangs,” he added.

The suspects were arrested in raids on the information gathered by the police.

Police did not face anticipated resistance from the gangs and it was almost smooth sailing into the troubled narrow alleyways of Lyari on Tuesday.

At sunset, the police and Rangers halted their inward penetration to the alleyways and established pickets in the area regained from the criminal elements. A total of 45 pickets were established in the Zikri Mohallah, Ali Mohammad Mohallah and Eidu Lane by the police and Rangers.

However, it is yet to be seen when the law enforcement agencies decide to head for Afshani Gali, considered a stronghold of Rehman Dakait.

A spokesman for the Rangers said it was a successful combined operation of the Rangers and the police in which several associates of Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri were arrested from the area.